Wayne County, Indiana, Bio-sketch--page 251 John Noble Black, a retired farmer residing in Hagerstown, Wayne county, was born in Center township, March 9, 1834. His father, Robert Black, was a native of Kentucky, and located on a tract of land in Wayne township, Wayne county, in 1813. At the time of his marriage he purchased a farm in Center township, where he and his wife both died, the date of his death being May 23, 1838, and his wife survived until February, 1883. The mother of John N. Black was formerly Julia Ann Jackson, and besides John N., the other children of herself and husband were; James, Elizabeth, Rebecca, and Charles, deceased; Caleb, who resides in Kansas; Joseph, deceased; and Robert, of Cedarville, Ks. The subject of this sketch, John N. Black, was educated in the common schools of Center township, and upon reaching manhood engaged in agricultural pursuits, which occupation he sedulously followed until his retirement a few years ago, and is now living in in quiet contentment in Hagerstown. Politically his affiliations are with the Democratic party, but he has never appeared in the role of "offensive partisan," recognizing the right of each citizen to worship politics according to the dictates of his own conscience. In the matter of fraternity Mr. Black is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, which order he joined in 1880, and his religious affiliations are with the Christian church, which he joined in 1891. On April 14, 1857, he was united in marriage to Miss Julia Ann Kitterman, who was born in Ohio, Feb. 13, 1830. She passed to the "home beyond," August 11, 1900, the mother of three children; Mary Caroline, who married William H. Petty, April 17, 1879; Joseph Solomon, who married Elizabeth Kirkman, January 20, 1887; and Ida Belle, who married George Petty, August 13, 1890. Mrs. Black's parents were Philip and Salome (Sowers) Kitterman, of Center township. Wayne County Birgraphical Sketches--Pages-273, 274 Ennias Kitterman, a leading farmer and prominent citizen of Center township, was born in Harrison township, of this county, April 23, 1845. His father, Solomon Kitterman, was born in Floyd county, Virginia, Nov. 12, 1802, and there learned the trade of a blacksmith. He was married to Miss Levisa Slusher, born in that county and state, March 15, 1812, and of this union ten children were born: Gabriel is a farmer and resides in Blackford county; Harvey died in 1866; Aley A. is the widow of James J. Black and resides in Center township; Hulda became the wife of William Leonard and died in 1904; Ephraim is a farmer and resides in Harrison township; Nancy is the wife of James Paxton of Harrison township; Ennias is the next in order of birth; Calvin is deceased; Mary is the wife of William Ensley, a farmer in Center township; and Leroy is a farmer and resides in Blackford county. The parents came to Indiana in 1839 and located in Harrison township, Wayne county, where the father at the time of his death owned 320 acres of land. He operated his farm in a general way until his death, which occured in 1875, and his widow survived until 1897. Ennias Kitterman, the subject of the review, received all his educational training in the public schools of Harrison township and while yet a boy enlisted as a soldier in the nineteenth battery of Indiana light artillery. This battery was organized at Cambridge City, Aug. 5, and was mustered into the United States service, at Indianapolis, Aug. 20, 1862. It immediately, left the State for Louisville, where it was assigned to the Thirty-third brigade, Tenth division, Army of the Ohio. Its first engagement was a Perryville, where it was posted on the right on a high level ridge at the left of the main road, from which position it kept up a steady fire for nearly four hours. Moving to Woodsonville, via Danville, Crab Orchard and Lebanon, it remained in camp until December when it moved to Glasgow, thence to Murfreesboro reaching there the day after the engagement of Stone's River, and was assigned to Reynolds' division of the Fourteenth corps, with which it remained in camp until June 24, 1863, when the army started on the Tullahoma campaign, Reynolds' division having the advance. At Hoover's Gap the enemy was driven from its position and the army proceeded to Manchester and Tullahoma, thence to University and Chattanooga, reaching Chickamauga Sept. 18. With its division the battery was in the hottest part of the battle of Chickamauga on the following two days, maintaining its position until the order was given to retreat to Chattanooga. It received the commendations of the gererals commanding the divisions and corps. Upon the breaking up of Reynolds' division, the battery was assigned to the Third division of the Fourteenth corps, with which it participated in the storming of Missionary Ridge and engaged in the pursuit of the enemy as far as Ringgold, Ga. It took part in the expedition against Dalton, in February, 1864, skirmished in front of Buzzard Roost and remained at Ringgold until May 7, when it joined General Sherman for the Atlanta campaign. It took part in all the principal battles and skirmishes, including Rocky Face Ridge, Resaca, Cassville, near Dallas, Kenesaw Mountain, Peachtree Creek, before Atlanta, Utoy and Jonesboro, going into camp at Atlanta after its evacuation. The battery joined in the pursuit of Hood as far as Gaylesville, Ala., then returned to Atlanta and moved with the army of Savannah, participating in the seige of that city and the capture of Fort McAllister. On Jan. 30, 1865, it moved with its division through the Carolinas and fought at Columbia and Bentonville. Mr. Kitterman was wounded in Sherman's last fight, at Bentonville, receiving a musket ball in the stomache, and as a result of theis wound fell into the hands of the enemy. He was taken to Libby prison, in Richmond, where he was confined five days, being released on Sunday, the day before the entrance of Grant's army into the city. He finally reached Camp Chase, Ohio, where he was mustered out, June 19, 1865. He then returned to the old homestead, where he remained until he was married, and one year later removed to Lawrence, Douglas county, Kan. where he purchased a farm and remained five years. He then returned to Wayne county and, after residing on the Robert Commons' farm, he purchased fifty acres of land where he now resides and to which he has added until at the present time he has 382 acres. He has one of the finest residences in the township, the material being red brick, and this he built in 1895. Aside from his farming interest Mr. Kitterman ia a stockholder in the First National BAnk at Cambridge City, of which institution his son is president. In the matter of politics Mr. Kitterman is aligned with the Republican party but has never been an aspirant for public office of any nature. On Sept. 10, 1868, he was married to Miss Minnie Harvey, born in Center township, Nov, 12, 1847, daughter of John and Sally Harvey. Of this union there is a son, Claude S. born at Lawrence, Kan., April 20, 1870, who is given extended mention on another page of this volume. Wayne County Biographical Sketches: Claude S. Kitterman is a leading menber of the banking fraternity at Cambridge City, where he has been successfully engaged in that occupation for the past six years, and both as a bussiness man and citizen he is held in high esteem by his associates. Mr. Kitterman was born April 20, 1870, in the historic town of Lawrence, Kan., son of Ennias and Marinda C. (Harvey) Kitterman, on the father's side being of German Decent and on the mother's english, her ancestors having come over with William Penn. The father is a farmer by occupation, and has followed agricultural pursuits during the major part of his active career. Claude S. Kitterman received his education in the common and high school of Centerville, Ind., his parents having returned to Indiana some time after his birth. He graduated in the high school in 1890, and then continued to work on his father's farm in the summer months, teaching school during the winter until 1904, when he helped to organize the First National Bank at Green's Fork. In 1905 he removed to Cambridge City and accepted the position of assistant cashier with the First National Bank of that place. In July, 1907, he was promoted to the position of cashier, and in August following was elected president of the institution, which position he has since continued to fill to the eminent satisfaction of all concerned. Fraternally, he is a member of the Sons of Veterans, having joined William P. Benton Camp at Richmond in 1888, and is also a member of Cambridge Lodge, No. 9, Knights of Pythias, having filled the chairs in both local organizations. In Politics he gives a consistent support to the men and measures of the Republical party. Mr. Kitterman was married in 1905, to Miss Lenna M. Bowermaster, daughter of Jacob M. and Emma R. (Boughner) Bowermaster, of Jackson township, Wayne county, and this union has been blessed by the birth of two sons-- Max B. and Ennias M. Kitterman. Wayne County, Indiana Bio-sketch Hiram Crook, who has been a resident of Wayne county all of his life, was born in Center township, Nov. 28, 1859, son of William and Amanda (Huff) Crook. William Crook was also born in Center township, July 26, 1832, a son of Jacob and Christina Crook, the former of whom was a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of Virginia. They came to Wayne county in 1830 and located in Center township, where they purchased a farm and continued to reside until their deaths, the father passing away in 1884 and the mother in 1870. They were the parents of nine children, all of whom are deceased excepting William, the father of the subject of this review. The names of these children in order of birth were Josiah, Susan, Patrick, Henry, Galen, William, Louisa Jane, George, and Millie. William Crook was educated in the schools of Center township and in youth began working at the carpenter trade, which he followed for about eight years. He then rented a farm for two years in Clay township, and then purchased a farm in Center township. Later he sold his Center township farm and purchased a farm in Harrison township, where he now lives, and upon which he erected excellent buildings and followed agricultural pursuits until he retired a few years ago. In politics he has been a Democrate all of his life. He and his good wife, whose maiden name was Amanda Huff, were married in September, 1853, and she is a daughter of Daniel and Betsy Huff, of Center township, both natives of Virginia and now deceased. To William and Amanda Crook there were five children; Sarah, the widow of Alphes Maudlin and a resident of California; Emma, widow of Calvin Kitterman and a resident of Center township; Hiram, who resides in Milton, and Josiah and Josiephene, both deceased. Hiram Crook received his elementary education in the schools of Harrison township. He thereafter assisted his father in the conduct of the farm until he arrived at man's estate and then rented a farm in Jackson township, upon which he continued his residence for a period of six years. At the end of that time he rented another farm in the same township, upon which he resided eleven years, and then purchased a farm of 120 acres in Washington township, and in 1902 removed to Milton. There he has a residence very pleasantly located, which he erected at the time of his removal to that place, surrounded by a tract of about three and one-half acres. He has added eighty-one acres to his original purchase and continues to be most successfully and lucratively engaged in his calling, Having improved the land and erected suitable buildings. He is interested both in farming and stock raising, and his business relations are accumulated all they posess, as they started in life with practically nothing. In the matter of politics he has been allied with the Republican party since becoming a voter. On September 29, 1884, he was married to Miss Carrie A. Burroughs, born May 21, 1861, daughter of John and Mary (Rader) Burroughs, of Harrison township, and of this union there were two children--Fred, who is deceased, and Irene, born Jan. 18, 1897, resides at home with her parents. The parents of Mrs. Crook were both born in Wayne county, the father in Dalton township and the mother in Harrison township. The father was a physician in early life, but later took up farming in Harrison township, and there he and his wife both died, the father passing away in January, 1891 and the mother in 1879. WALTER IRVING KITTERMAN is another of the enterprising and successful farmers of Wayne county who can claim the old Hoosier State as the place of nativity. He has lived in the county from the day of his birth and has advanced through his own efforts to a position of independence and definite prosperity. He was born in Harrison township, Wayne county, Indiana, April 10, 1878, the only son of Calvin and Emma (Crook) Kitterman, the former of whom was also born in Harrison township, Jan. 19, 1847, died Feb. 8, 1903, and the latter was born in Center township. The paternal grandfather was Solomon Kitterman, a native of Virginia, who settled in Wayne county in an early day. Calvin Kitterman was educated in Harrison township, was a farmer all of his life and at the time of his demise the owner of a fine homestead of eighty acres, a considerable portion of which was reclaimed from the virgin forest under his direction. He remained on this homestead, in Harrison township, until his death, enjoying the due rewards of former years of earnest toil and endeavor. His cherished and devoted wife survives, and is a communicant of the Society of Friends. The father was a Democrat in his political allegiance. He was a citizen who ever commanded unequivocal confidence and esteem and as a resident of the county for more than half a century well merits recognition as having been one of its sterling citizens. Walter I. Kitterman, whose name initates this article, was afforded the advantages of the schools of Harrison township and early began to lend his aid in connection with the work of the home farm, with which he continued to be associated until he had attained to the age of twenty-two years, when he rented a farm in Center township. When his father passed away he returned to the old homestead, upon which he has made the best of improvements and which has been developed into one of the valuable farms of the county, everything about the place bearing unmistakable evidences of thrift and prosperity. In politics he is found arrayed as a loyal supporter of the cause of the Democratic party. He is progressive and public spirited as a citizen and has so ordered his llife as to retain the inviolable esteem of the community which has always represented his home. May 3, 1899, witnessed the marriage of Mr. Kitterman to Miss Maude Lundy, born Feb, 4, 1881, daughter of Charles and Laur (Hart) Lundy, both of whom were born in Wayne county and were long numbered among the sterling citizens of Center toenship, where the father died October, 1899 and the mother is now residing. They reared a family of four children, of whom Mrs. Kitterman is the eldest; Harry married Ida Haley and they reside in Center township, the parents of one child, Erpha; Van resides in N.D.; and Hazel resides with her mother in Center township. James Lundy, the grandfather of Mrs. Kitterman, came to Indiana from Tennessee and settled in Center township, at the old homestead where Mrs. Charles Lundy now resides. Mr. and Mrs. Kitterman have two children: Lester, born Jan. 4, 1900, and Lela, born Feb. 14, 1902. Wayne County, Center Township, Indiana-History of Wayne County 1872 by Andrew Young History of Wayne County, Indiana--pgs. 192 & 193. "George Rupe from Tennessee, came in 1821 to Richmond, Ind. and carried on the hatting business for a year. He then removed to Perry, about 3 miles west from where Economy is now, and thence, three years afterward, to the present site of that town, where he built a log shop and dwelling together. This was one of the first buildings, if not the first one, within the present limits of the town. He carried on the hatting business for about 30 years, attending a celebrity nearly equal to that of Beard of North Carolina, to whom allusion has been made. He died in 1859, in Hamilton County, Indiana of cancer." Henry B. Rupe, son of George Rupe, was born in Tennessee, 1821, and came the same year with his father to Wayne county, Indiana. At the age of ten years, he commenced learning the hatter's trade with his father, at Economy, and followed the business until 1858. He was early identified with the antislavery movement; and on the organization of the Liberty party, was run by that party as a canidate for county treasurer. He has lectured much, throughout the county, upon the subjects of slavery, temperance, and popular education as connected with the common schools. Since about the year 1859, he has been a preacher of the Baptist denomination. Since the beginning of his ministerial labors, he has preached for churches of Concord, at Cambridge City, and at Elkhorn. In the fall of 1862, he was elected Treasurer of Wayne county; and in 1864 was re-elected for a second term. He is now living on his farm a mile and a half south of Centerville. John Stigleman was born in Virginia, in the year 1787, whence he removed to this county, in 1819, and settled about three miles north of Centerville, and a few years later to the farm now owned and occupied by his son Henry, where he died August 18, 1865, aged 79 years. He was a good and useful citizen, of decided Christian character, and an active member of the Baptist church. He held the office of county commissioner for one or two terms. John Prichett was born in New Jersey, Nov. 25, 1803, and reared in Columbiana county, Ohio, where he studied medicine; and came to Centerville in February, 1826. After a successful practice for many years, he graduated, in 1843, at the Ohio Medical College, Cincinnati. He is at this time the oldest practicing physician in the county, excepting Dr. Pennington, of Milton. He married Emily Talbot, daughter of Samuel Talbot, near Centerville, and had three children; 1. Mary, who resides with the family at Centerville. 2. Gustavus, who died in infancy. 3. James M., who resides in Washington City. In 1852, he entered the naval school at Annapolis, Md., and graduated in 1857, and is still in the navy of the United States. He was in active service in the late civil war. William Pugh, a native of South Carolina, settled in Richmond, in 1818, and soon after removed to Salisbury, where he studied medicine with Dr. Ithamar Warner, and returned to Richmond, where he was in practice with Dr. Warner until 1824. He then removed to Centerville, and continued the practice of his profession until his decease, in 1829, aged 33. His son, John E. Pugh, is a druggist in Centerville, and is said to be the first person born in town. James Rariden, a native of Kentucky, after a residence of several years in Brookville, and for a time in Salisbury, where he studied law, and was a deputy clerk for David Hoover, came to Centerville in 1820, where he remained in the practice of law until about 1846. He then removed to Cambridge City, where he died in 1856 or 1857. Though illiterate, he was a man of strong mind, a fair lawyer, and an able advocate. He was several times elected to the legislature, and was a represenative in Congress from 1837 to 1841. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organization or persons. 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